The MataBlog is edited by Matador Records’ co-moaner Gerard Cosloy and individual entries are the work of whoever’s name is next to them. If you enjoyed something in the MataBlog, thank you very much! If there was something you found particularly troubling, please be advised that a) maybe you should read it again and b) the contents of this blog do not necessarily represent the opinions of Matador Records, Beggars Group, the combined staff of either company, nor the Matador artist roster. Opinions are like friends — hardly anyone has one worth listening to.

Julien Baker first performed at NPR's Tiny Desk Concert in early 2016, several months after the release of her debut album Sprained Ankle. Today she becomes one of the few artists to perform at Tiny Desk for a second time. Joined by her touring violinist Camille Faulkner, Baker performed three tracks from her sophomore LP Turn Out The Lights, "Appointments," "Hurt Less," and "Even." This session comes on the heels of Julien's late night debut, performing "Turn Out The Lights" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Baker has also announced her first U.S. tour dates of 2018 today, through the Midwest and Northeast this spring after traveling to Europe in March with Belle & Sebastian. Tickets for the new dates are on sale this Friday, January 12th at 10am EST.

Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile have a lot to celebrate this year: Their LP Lotta Sea Lice has been featured on Best-Of lists from Rolling Stone, Consequence of Sound, Paste, Uproxx, Noisey, among others so far, and they've traveled North America together with their all-star group The Sea Lice. Today NPR released Courtney & Kurt's Tiny Desk Concert, which sees the duo leave the band behind in favor of a mirrored acoustic performance. The set features highlights from Lotta Sea Lice "Over Everything," "Continental Breakfast," "Blue Cheese," and "Let It Go." Watch the whole thing here:

A couple weeks after delivering The OOZ to the world, King Krule dropped by the All Songs Considered offices in Washington D.C. to perform a stripped version of some of the new material. Several weeks and about 30 sold-out shows across the U.S. and Europe later, the video premieres today. Watch as Archy and the band manage to transform the sunny NPR office into a dingy South London pub with the tracks, "Midnight 01 (Deep Sea Diver), Lonely Blue, and a combination of "Logos" and "Sublunary."

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The MataBlog is edited by Matador Records’ co-moaner Gerard Cosloy and individual entries are the work of whoever’s name is next to them. If you enjoyed something in the MataBlog, thank you very much! If there was something you found particularly troubling, please be advised that a) maybe you should read it again and b) the contents of this blog do not necessarily represent the opinions of Matador Records, Beggars Group, the combined staff of either company, nor the Matador artist roster. Opinions are like friends — hardly anyone has one worth listening to.